Originally Posted by
NOS88
You put 290 horse power in a 1968 Mercury Monterey and it will go very fast. You put the same horse power in a 2005 Dodge Neon and the thing will almost fly. Same with bikes. A big engine will roll even a heavy bike... now put it on a weight weenie special and....... Well, it gets interesting.
The Monterey vs. the Neon is going to be total weight ratio of almost 2/1.
Total weight ratio of rider on Wal-Mart bike vs same rider on $5k CF bike maybe 1.1/1, even less with heavy rider, little more with light rider.
Misleading analogy.
If you are racing every .01% matters -- understood. Otherwise most dramatic difference in a light bike is if you have to carry it up the stairs to your apartment.
Still, I like light bikes and have 3 of CF frame and seatpost, bars, fork. Difference in best time is less than 10% on my 15 mile urban commute between my slowest and fastest bikes. Slowest is a cheap Schwinn full suspension MTB with some upgraded components and smooth tires. Fastest bike is home made full CF road frame, straight bars, 700 x 28.
If you don't have knobby tires on pavement, bike fits you right, everything works, shifts right etc., the bike is 90% there whether $200 or $2000 and now its up to you.
They tried to kick my riding buddy off of a high-paced road ride one time because he showed up with a Cannondale V full suspension/platform pedals he borrowed from me. He pleaded to be allowed to give it a try and told them he would drop back and fend for himself if it came down to that, and they reluctantly agreed. He finished in the middle of the pack and they all wanted to take pictures of him next to the MTB.
I ride with him when he has his 20 years old 45 lb Pioneer, I ride with him when he has his Trek "Y-Foil." He's faster on the Trek but it's NOT a night and day difference because both bikes fit him and both bikes work right.
Don in Austin